Food waste recycling service: My green bin

• There are a number of steps you can take to prepare for the next fortnight collection run: 
  • Ensure your green bin is in the shade at all times. This reduces the heat that generates within the bin. 
• Mix as much garden cuttings with the existing food waste in your green lid bin, particularly dry material such as leaves and pruned branches. 
• Sprinkle vinegar, bi-carb soda, charcoal or eucalyptus oil in your green bin to absorb and dissipate odours. 
• Download the free Brisbane Bin and Recycling app and set-up your personal bin collection reminder. You can download the app from the App Store. 
• Set-up a fortnightly reminder in your mobile calendar, and set it for the night before collection day.  
• Council will only empty bins on scheduled bin collection days, and won’t return if residents have forgotten to take their bins out.   

• Set up a home composting solution for your household’s food waste to reduce the amount of food waste going into your green waste recycling bin.  
• Let grass cuttings and leaves dry out in the sun for a week before placing in your garden waste recycle bin – you’ll be amazed how much more fits in! In some gardens, you can also use grass cuttings on your garden as mulch. You also have the option to get a second green waste recycling bin, or upgrade to a bigger bin. 

• Yes.  
• It’s more important than ever before to take your bin out to avoid food waste sitting in your green bin for potentially up to 4 weeks. No matter how small the volume of waste is in your bin. 
• To help keep to your fortnightly bin collection schedule, you should: 
  • download the free Brisbane Bin and Recycling app and set-up your personal bin collection reminder. You can download the app from the App Store. 
  • when you see your neighbours green bin on the kerb, use it as a prompt to take your bin out.  

Food and green waste will likely create odours, especially in high temperatures, during the festive season, when the waste material is wet, or if the bin lid is not completely closed. 

Here are some tips to help reduce bin odours: 

Green lid wheelie bin: 

• mix garden cuttings with food waste in your green lid bin, particularly dry material such as leaves and pruned branches 
• line the bottom of your wheelie bin with drier garden material, such as dry leaves and tree prunings to stop food waste sticking to the bin
• keep the lid of your green lid wheelie bin closed tightly to help keep vermin and maggots from getting in
• don’t overfill it
• if your bin lid is broken or does not fit properly, contact Council to organise a repair or replacement lid
• keep your wheelie bin in the shade if possible 
• try and cut your grass close to your green bin collection day 
• put your wheelie bin out each fortnight collection day, even if it isn’t full
• if you do see evidence of maggots, kill them with a small amount of boiling water or a vinegar solution
• hose your wheelie bin out from time to time, emptying the water onto your lawn or garden beds

Don’t worry – research shows that pests are not a common problem with food waste collections, if food is kept in closed containers. 

Keep your green bin closed to decrease opportunities for pests.